TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Jeremiah 23:9–32. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here is a long lesson for the false prophets. As none were more bitter and spiteful against God's true prophets than they, so there were none on whom the true prophets were more severe, and justly. The prophet had complained to God of those false prophets (Jer 14:13), and had often foretold that they should be involved in the common ruin; but here they have woes of their own.
I.He expresses the deep concern that he was under upon this account, and what a trouble it was to him to see men who pretended to a divine commission and inspiration ruining themselves, and the people among whom they dwelt, by their falsehood and treachery (Jer 23:9): My heart within me is broken; I am like a drunken man. His head was in confusion with wonder and astonishment; his heart was under oppression with grief and vexation. Jeremiah was a man that laid things much to heart, and what was any way threatening to his country made a deep impression upon his spirits. He is here in trouble, 1. Because of the prophets and their sin, the false doctrine they preached, the wicked lives they lived; especially it filled him with horror to hear them making use of God's name and pretending to have their instruction from him. Never was the Lord so abused, and the words of his holiness, as by these men. Note, The dishonour done to God's name, and the profanation of his holy word, are the greatest grief imaginable to a gracious soul. 2. "Because of the Lord, and his judgments, which by this means are brought in upon us like a deluge." He trembled to think of the ruin and desolation which were coming from the face of the Lord (so the word is) and from the face of the word of his holiness, which will be inflicted by the power of God's wrath, according to the threatenings of his word, confirmed by his holiness. Note, Even those that have God for them cannot but tremble to think of the misery of those that have God against them.
II.He laments the abounding abominable wickedness of the land and the present tokens of God's displeasure they were under for it (Jer 23:10):
The land is full of adulterers; it is full both of spiritual and corporal whoredom. They go a whoring from God, and, having cast off the fear of him, no marvel that they abandon themselves to all manner of lewdness; and, having dishonoured themselves and their own bodies, they dishonour God and his name by rash and false swearing, because of which the land mourns. Both perjury and common swearing are sins for which a land must mourn in true repentance or it will be made to mourn under the judgments of God. Their land mourned now under the judgment of famine; the pleasant places, or rather the pastures, or (as some read it) the habitations of the wilderness, are dried up for want of rain, and yet we see no signs of repentance. They answer not the end of the correction. The tenour and tendency of men's conversations are sinful, their course continues evil, as bad as ever, and they will not be diverted from it. They have a great deal of resolution, but it is turned the wrong way; they are zealously affected, but not in a good thing: Their force is not right; their heart is fully set in them to do evil, and they are not valiant for the truth, have not courage enough to break off their evil courses, though they see God thus contending with them.
III.He charges it all upon the prophets and priests, especially the prophets.
They are both profane (Jer 23:11); the priests profane the ordinances of God they pretend to administer; the prophets profane the word of God they pretend to deliver; their converse and all their conversation are profane, and then it is not strange that the people are so debauched. They both play the hypocrite (so some read it); under sacred pretensions they carry on the vilest designs; yea, not only in their own houses, and the bad houses they frequent, but in my house have I found their wickedness; in the temple, where the priests ministered, where the prophets prophesied, there were they guilty both of idolatry and immorality. See a woeful instance in Hophni and Phinehas, Sa1 2:22. God searches his house, and what wickedness is there he will find it out; and the nearer it is to him the more offensive it is. Two things are charged upon them: - 1. That they taught people to sin by their examples. He compares them with the prophets of Samaria, the head city of the kingdom of the ten tribes, which had been long since laid waste. It was the folly of the prophets of Samaria that they prophesied in Baal, in Baal's name; so Ahab's prophets did, and so they caused my people Israel to err, to forsake the service of the true God and to worship Baal, Jer 23:13. Now the prophets of Jerusalem did not do so; they prophesied in the name of the true God, and valued themselves upon that, that they were not like the prophets of Samaria, who prophesied in Baal; but what the better, when they debauched the nation as much by their immoralities as the other had done by their idolatries? It is a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem that they make use of the name of the holy God, and yet wallow in all manner of impurity; they make nothing of committing adultery. They make use of the name of the God of truth, and yet walk in lies; they not only prophesy lies, but in their common conversation one cannot believe a word they say. It is all either jest and banter or fraud and design. Thus they encourage sinners to go on in their wicked ways; for every one will say, "Surely we may do as the prophets do; who can expect that we should be better than our teachers?" By this means it is that none returns from his wickedness; but they all say that they shall have peace, though they go on, for their prophets tell them so. By this means Judah and Jerusalem have become as Sodom and Gomorrah, that were wicked, and sinners before the Lord exceedingly; and God looked upon them accordingly as fit for nothing but to be destroyed, as they were, with fire and brimstone. 2. That they encouraged people in sin by their false prophecies. They made themselves believe that there was no harm, no danger in sin, and practiced accordingly; and then no marvel that they made others believe so too (Jer 23:16): They speak a vision of their own heart; it is the product of their own invention, and agrees with their own inclination, but it is not out of the mouth of the Lord; he never dictated it to them, nor did it agree either with the law of Moses or with what God has spoken by other prophets. They tell sinners that it shall be well with them though they persist in their sins, Jer 23:17. See here who those are that they encourage - those that despise God, that slight his authority, and have low and mean thoughts of his institutions, and those that walk after the imagination of their own heart, that are worshippers of idols and slaves to their own lusts; those that are devoted to their pleasures put contempt upon their God. Yet see how these prophets caressed and flattered them: they should have been still saying, There is no peace to those that go on in their evil ways - Those that despise God shall be lightly esteemed - Woe, and a thousand woes, to them; but they still said, You shall have peace; no evil shall come upon you. And, which was worst of all, they told them, God has said so, so making him to patronize sin, and to contradict himself. Note, Those that are resolved to go on in their evil ways will justly be given up to believe the strong delusions of those who tell them that they shall have peace though they go on.
IV.God disowns all that these false prophets said to sooth people up in their sins (Jer 23:21):
I have not sent these prophets; they never had any mission from God. They were not only not sent by him on this errand, but they were never sent by him on any errand; he never had employed them in any service or business for him; and, as to this matter, whereas they pretended to have instructions from him to assure this people of peace, he declares that he never gave them any such instructions. Yet they were very forward - they ran; they were very bold - they prophesied without any of that difficulty with which the true prophets sometimes struggled. They said to sinners, You shall have peace. But (Jer 23:18): "Who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord? Who of you has, that are so confident of this? You deliver this message with a great deal of assurance; but have you consulted God about it? No; you never considered whether it be agreeable to the discoveries God has made of himself, whether it will consist with the honour of his holiness and justice, to let sinners go unpunished. You have not perceived and heard his word, nor marked that; you have not compared this with the scripture; if you had taken notice of that, and of the constant tenour of it, you would never have delivered such a message." The prophets themselves must try the spirits by the touchstone of the law and of the testimony, as well as those to whom they prophesy; but which of those did so that prophesied of peace? That they did not stand in God's counsel nor hear his word is proved afterwards, Jer 23:22. If they had stood in my counsel, as they pretend,
1.They would have made the scriptures their standard: They would have caused my people to hear my words, and would have conscientiously kept closely to them. But, not speaking according to that rule, it is a plain evidence that there is no light in them.
2.They would have made the conversion of souls their business, and would have aimed at that in all their preaching. They would have done all they could to turn people from their evil way in general and from all the particular evil of their doings. They would have encouraged and assisted the reformation of manners, would have made this their scope in all their preaching, to part between men and their sins; but it appeared that this was a thing they never aimed at, but, on the contrary, to encourage sinners in their sins.
3.They would have had some seals of their ministry. This sense our translation gives it: If they had stood in my counsel, and the words they had preached had been my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way; a divine power should have gone along with the word for the conviction of sinners. God will bless his own institutions. Yet this is no certain rule; Jeremiah himself, though God sent him, prevailed with but few to turn from their evil way.
V.God threatens to punish these prophets for their wickedness.
They promised the people peace; and to show them the folly of that God tells them that they should have no peace themselves. They were very unfit to warrant the people, and pass their word to them that no evil shall come upon them, when all evil is coming upon themselves and they are not aware of it, Jer 23:12. Because the prophets and priests are profane, therefore their ways shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness. Those that undertake to lead others, because they mislead them, and know they do so, shall themselves have no comfort in their way.
1.They pretend to show others the way, but they shall themselves be in the dark, or in a mist; their light or sight shall fail, so that they shall not be able to look before them, shall have no forecast for themselves.
2.They pretend to give assurances to others, but they themselves shall find no firm footing: Their ways shall be to them as slippery ways, in which they shall not go with any steadiness, safety, or satisfaction.
3.They pretend to make the people easy with their flatteries, but they shall themselves be uneasy: They shall be driven, forced forward as captives, or making their escape as those that are pursued, and they shall fall in the way by which they hoped to escape, and so fall into the enemies' hands.
4.They pretend to prevent the evil that threatens others, but God will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, the time fixed for calling them to an account; such a time is fixed concerning all that do not judge themselves, and it will be an evil time. The year of visitation is the year of recompenses. It is further threatened (Jer 23:15), I will feed them with wormwood, or poison, with that which is not only nauseous, but noxious, and make them drink waters of gall, or (as some read it) juice of hemlock; see Jer 9:15. Justly is the cup of trembling put into their hand first, for from the prophets of Jerusalem, who should have been patterns of piety and every thing that is praiseworthy, even from them has profaneness gone forth into all the lands. Nothing more effectually debauches a nation than the debauchery of ministers.
VI.The people are here warned not to give any credit to these false prophets; for, though they flattered them with hopes of impunity, the judgments of God would certainly break out against them, unless they repented (Jer 23:16): "Take notice of what God says, and hearken not to the words of these prophets; for you will find, in the issue, that God's word shall stand, and not theirs. God's word will make you serious, but they make you vain, feed you with vain hopes, which will fail you at last. They tell you, No evil shall come upon you; but hear what God says (Jer 23:19), Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury. They tell you, All shall be calm and serene; but God tells you, There is a storm coming, a whirlwind of the Lord, of his sending, and therefore there is no standing before it. It is a whirlwind raised by divine wrath; it has gone forth in fury, a wind that is brought forth out of the treasuries of divine vengeance; and therefore it is a grievous whirlwind, and shall light heavily, with rain and hail, upon the head of the wicked, which they cannot avoid nor find any shelter from." It shall fall upon the wicked prophets themselves who deceived the people, and the wicked people who suffered themselves to be deceived. A horrible tempest shall be the portion of their cup, Psa 11:6. This sentence is bound on as irreversible (Jer 23:20): The anger of the Lord shall not return, for the decree has gone forth. God will not alter his mind, nor suffer his anger to be turned away, till he have executed the sentence and performed the thoughts of his heart. God's whirlwind, when it comes down from heaven, returns not thither, but accomplishes that for which he sent it, Isa 55:11. This they will not consider now; but in the latter days you shall consider it perfectly, consider it with understanding (so the word is) or with consideration. Note, Those that will not fear the threatenings shall feel the execution of them, and will then perfectly understand what they will not now admit the evidence of, what a fearful thing it is to fall into the hands of a just and jealous God. Those that will not consider in time will be made to consider when it is too late. Son, remember.
VII.Several things are here offered to the consideration of these false prophets for their conviction, that, if possible, they might be brought to recant their error and acknowledge the cheat they had put upon God's people.
1.Let them consider that though they may impose upon men God is too wise to be imposed upon. Men cannot see through their fallacies, but God can and does. Here,
(1.)God asserts his own omnipresence and omniscience in general, Jer 23:23, Jer 23:24. When they told the people that no evil should befall them though they went on in their evil ways they went upon atheistical principles, that the Lord doth not see their sin, that he cannot judge through the dark cloud, that he will not require it; and therefore they must be taught the first principles of their religion, and confronted with the most incontestable self-evident truths.
[1.]That though God's throne is prepared in the heavens, and this earth seems to be at a distance from him, yet he is a God here in this lower world, which seems to be afar off, as well as in the upper world, which seems to be at hand, Jer 23:23. The eye of God is the same on earth that it is in heaven. Here it runs to and fro as well as there (Ch2 16:9); and what is in the minds of men, whose spirits are veiled in flesh, is as clearly seen by him as what is in the mind of angels, those unveiled spirits above that surround his throne. The power of God is the same on earth among its inhabitants that it is in heaven among its armies. With us nearness and distance make a great difference both in our observations and in our operations, but it is not so with God; to him darkness and light, at hand and afar off, are both alike.
[2.]That, how ingenious and industrious soever men are to disguise themselves and their own characters and counsels, they cannot possibly be concealed from God's all-seeing eye (Jer 23:24): "Can any hide himself in the secret places of the earth, that I shall not see him? Can any hide his projects and intentions in the secret places of the heart, that I shall not see them?" No arts of concealment can hide men from the eye of God, nor deceive his judgment of them.
[3.]That he is every where present; he does not only rule heaven and earth, and uphold both by his universal providence, but he fills heaven and earth by his essential presence, Psa 139:7, Psa 139:8, etc. No place can either include him or exclude him.
(2.)He applies this to these prophets, who had a notable art of disguising themselves (Jer 23:25, Jer 23:26): I have heard what the prophets said that prophesy lies in my name. They thought that he was so wholly taken up with the other world that he had no leisure to take cognizance of what passed in this. But God will make them know that he knows all their impostures, all the shams they have put upon the world, under colour of divine revelation. What they intended to humour the people with they pretended to have had from God in a dream, when there was no such thing. This they could not discover. If a man tell me that he dreamed so and so, I cannot contradict him; he knows I cannot. But God discovered the fraud. Perhaps the false prophets whispered what they had to say in the ears of such as were their confidants, saying, So and so I have dreamed; but God overheard them. The heart-searching eye of God traced them in all the methods they took to deceive the people, and he cries out, How long? Shall I always bear with them? Is it in the hearts of those prophets (so some read it) to be ever prophesying lies and prophesying the deceits of their own hearts? Will they never see what an affront they put upon God, what an abuse they put upon the people, and what judgments they are preparing for themselves?
2.Let them consider that their palming upon people counterfeit revelations, and fathering their own fancies upon divine inspiration, was the ready way to bring all religion into contempt and make men turn atheists and infidels; and this was the thing they really intended, though they frequently made mention of the name of God, and prefaced all they said with, Thus saith the Lord. Yet, says God, They think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams. They designed to draw people off from the worship of God, from all regard to God's laws and ordinances and the true prophets, as their fathers forgot God's name for Baal. Note, The great thing Satan aims at is to make people forget God, and all that whereby he has made himself known; and he has many subtle methods to bring them to this. Sometimes he does it by setting up false gods (bring men in love with Baal, and they soon forget the name of God), sometimes by misrepresenting the true God, as if he were altogether such a one as ourselves. Pretenses to new revelation may prove as dangerous to religion as the denying of all revelation; and false prophets in God's name may perhaps do more mischief to the power of godliness than false prophets in Baal's name, as being less guarded against.
3.Let them consider what a vast difference there was between their prophecies and those that were delivered by the true prophets of the Lord (Jer 23:28): The prophet that has a dream, which was the way of inspiration that the false prophets most pretended to, if he has a dream, let him tell it as a dream; so Mr. Gataker reads it. "Let him lay no more stress upon it than men do upon their dreams, nor expect any more regard to be had to it. Let them not say that it is from God, nor call their foolish dreams divine oracles. But let the true prophet, that has my word, speak my word faithfully, speak it as a truth" (so some read it): "let him keep closely to his instructions, and you will soon perceive a vast difference between the dreams that the false prophets tell and the divine dictates which the true prophets deliver. He that pretends to have a message from God, whether by dream or voice, let him declare it, and it will easily appear which is of God and which is not. Those that have spiritual senses exercised will be able to distinguish; for what is the chaff to the wheat? The promises of peace which these prophets make to you are no more to be compared to God's promises than chaff to wheat." Men's fancies are light, and vain, and worthless, as the chaff which the wind drives away. But the word of God has substance in it; it is of value, is food for the soul, the bread of life. Wheat was the staple commodity of Canaan, that valley of vision, Deu 8:8; Eze 27:17. There is as much difference between the vain fancies of men and the pure word of God as between the chaff and the wheat. It follows (Jer 23:29), Is not my word like a fire, saith the Lord? Is their word so? Has it the power and efficacy that the word of God has? No; nothing like it; there is no more comparison than between painted fire and real fire. Theirs is like an ignis fatuus - a deceiving meteor, leading men into by-paths and dangerous precipices. Note, The word of God is like fire. The law was a fiery law (Deu 33:2), and of the gospel Christ says, I have come to send fire on the earth, Luk 12:49. Fire has different effects, according as the matter is on which it works; it hardens clay, but softens wax; it consumes the dross, but purifies the gold. So the word of God is to some a savour of life unto life, to others of death unto death. God appeals here to the consciences of those to whom the word was sent: "Is not my word like fire? Has it not been so to you? Zac 1:6. Speak as you have found." It is compared likewise to a hammer breaking the rock in pieces. The unhumbled heart of man is like a rock; if it will not be melted by the word of God as the fire, it will be broken to pieces by it as the hammer. Whatever opposition is given to the word, it will be borne down and broken to pieces.
4.Let them consider that while they went on in this course God was against them. Three times they are told this, Jer 23:30, Jer 23:31, Jer 23:32. Behold, I am against the prophets. They pretended to be for God, and made use of his name, but were really against him; he looks upon them as they were really, and is against them. How can they be long safe, or at all easy, that have a God of almighty power against them? While these prophets were promising peace to the people God was proclaiming war against them. They stand indicted here,
(1.)For robbery: They steal my word every one from his neighbour. Some understand it of that word of God which the good prophets preached; they stole their sermons, their expressions, and mingled them with their own, as hucksters mingle bad wares with some that are good, to make them vendible. Those that were strangers to the spirit of the true prophets mimicked their language, picked up some good sayings of theirs, and delivered them to the people as if they had been their own, but with an ill grace; they were not of a piece with the rest of their discourses. The legs of the lame are not equal, so is a parable in the mouth of fools, Pro 26:7. Others understand it of the word of God as it was received and entertained by some of the people; they stole it out of their hearts, as the wicked one in the parable is said to steal the good seed of the word, Mat 13:19. By their insinuations they diminished the authority, and so weakened the efficacy, of the word of God upon the minds of those that seemed to be under convictions by it.
(2.)They stand indicted for counterfeiting the broad seal. Therefore God is against them (Jer 23:31), because they use their tongues at their pleasure in their discourses to the people; they say what they themselves think fit, and then father it upon God, pretend they had it from him, and say, He saith it. Some read it, They smooth their tongues; they are very complaisant to the people, and say nothing but what is pleasing and plausible; they never reprove them nor threaten them, but their words are smoother than butter. Thus they ingratiate themselves with them, and get money by them; and they have the impudence and impiety to make God the patron of their lies; they say, "He saith so." What greater indignity can be done to the God of truth than to lay the brats of the father of lies at his door?
(3.)They stand indicted as common cheats (Jer 23:32): I am against them, for they prophesy false dreams, pretending that to be a divine inspiration which is but an invention of their own. This is a horrid fraud; nor will it excuse them to say, Caveat emptor - Let the buyer take care of himself, and Si populus vult decipi, decipiatur - If people will be deceived, let them. No; it is the people's fault that they err, that they take things upon trust, and do not try the spirits; but it is much more the prophets' fault that they cause God's people to err by their lies and by their lightness, by the flatteries of their preaching soothing them up in their sins, and by the looseness and lewdness of their conversation encouraging them to persist in them.
[1.]God disowns their having any commission from him: I sent them not, nor commanded them; they are not God's messengers, nor is what they say his message.
[2.]He therefore justly denies his blessing with them: Therefore they shall not profit this people at all. All the profit they aim at is to make them easy; but they shall not so much as do that, for God's providences will at the same time be making them uneasy. They do not profit this people (so some read it); and more is implied than is expressed; they not only do them no good, but do them a great deal of hurt. Note, Those that corrupt the word of God, while they pretend to preach it, are so far from edifying the church that they do it the greatest mischief imaginable.
Historical interpretation
Two Centuries of Reception
6 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
The Lord cries out and says, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who invent a vain vision for themselves, which they speak as false prophets from their own heart and not from the mouth of the Lord. They say to them that reject the words of the Lord, “Peace shall be yours.” They who themselves have neither peace nor the church are now offering peace; they who have withdrawn from the church are permitting the bringing back and recalling of the lapsed. God is one, and Christ, one, and the church, one, and the chair established on Peter by the voice of the Lord, one. Another altar cannot be set up or a new priesthood be made contrary to the one altar and the one priesthood.
Against such people as these the Lord cries out, from these he reins in and recalls his erring people, saying, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who invent a vain vision for themselves, which they speak as false prophets from their own heart and not from the mouth of the Lord. They say to those who reject the words of the Lord, ‘Peace shall be yours’ and to all who walk according to their own desires, to everyone who walks in the error of his heart, they have said, ‘No evil shall come on you.’ ”
(Verse 16, 17.) Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, and deceive you. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord. They say to those who despise me (or reject my word), the Lord has spoken, you shall have peace. And to everyone who walks according to the stubbornness of his own heart, they say, no evil shall come upon you. So that the people may not think they are innocent if they follow the wicked teachers, do not listen, he says, to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you deceit, and deceive you. For there will be punishment for both the master and the disciple. They do not speak from the Lord's mouth, but rather things they have concocted in their own hearts. They say to those who blaspheme against me, namely heretics and perverted individuals, or those who reject my message: what do they say? The Lord has spoken, there will be peace for you. Do not fear harsh punishments, nor be frightened by empty threats. There will be peace and tranquility for you, and whatever we say and announce to you, the Lord has spoken; nor will any evil come upon you that you fear out of a guilty conscience; but rather the good that the Lord has spoken to you will come.
Who indeed was present in the counsel of the Lord, and saw, and heard His word? Who considered His word, and heard it? Where we have interpreted, in the counsel, and in Hebrew it is written Basod (): Aquila, secretum: Symmachus, sermonem: Septuagint and Theodotion, substance or essence. And the sense is: Do not believe, O uninformed crowd, the false prophets who announce to you, saying, 'The Lord has spoken this, peace will be upon you; no evil will come upon you.' For where can the secrets of God be known, or by whom have we learned the counsel of God? How does the word of divine arrangement reach them? Some of our people think they have found this place, where the substance of God is described.
I know other persons, however, whom an abysmal lack of wisdom and prudence so deceives and tricks that they think that the faith that they pretend to have will help them before God without the works of justice. They commit abominable crimes without fear by reason of this kind of error, while they believe that God is the avenger not of crimes but of lack of faith. Not only are they willing thus to ruin themselves, but also they strive by their snares to trap others in whom there is not light of divine knowledge. Do not listen to the words of the prophets who invent a vain vision for themselves, which they speak as false prophets from their own heart and not from the mouth of the Lord. They say to those that reject the words of the Lord, "Peace shall be yours," and to all who walk according to their own desires, to everyone who walks in the error of his heart, they have said, "No evil shall come on you."
God gives the promise, "I will deliver them from the hand of the grave, and from death I will redeem them." So the blessed prophets are in harmony with the decrees from on high. They speak to us not of their own heart or of the will of people but from the mouth of God, as it is written. It is the Holy Spirit speaking within them that declares in every matter what is the sentence of God and his almighty and unalterable will. The prophet Isaiah has said to us, "Your dead shall arise. Those in the graves shall be raised. They who are in the earth shall rejoice. For the dew from you is healing to them." And by the dew I imagine he means the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, and that influence that abolishes death as being that of God and of life.
The guilt decreed against the wicked heretics is inevitable. They reject the words of the holy apostles and evangelists and pervert them to that meaning that seems to them to be right without due examination. They fall from the straight way and wander from the doctrines of piety, deceiving and being deceived. For while, so to speak, they have bidden farewell to the sacred Scriptures, they speak from their own heart and not out of the mouth of the Lord, as Scripture says. Even though the blessed Evangelist John wrote to us, that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, they drag to the exact opposite both the tenet concerning him and the quotation that proves it, saying that the only-begotten Word of God was not in the beginning, nor true God, and he was not even with God, that is in union with him by nature; God, who has no body, cannot be imagined to be confined to in any one place.
Continue studying Jeremiah 23:16 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Jeremiah 23:16 issues a profound divine warning from the LORD of hosts, instructing the people of Judah to reject the deceptive messages of false prophets. These self-proclaimed messengers, active during a period of national crisis and spiritual decline, offered comforting but ultimately hollow assurances. The verse unequivocally exposes the origin of their prophecies not as authentic divine revelation, but as mere fabrications stemming from their own human imagination, desires, and uninspired intellect, thereby leading the people into spiritual futility rather than genuine truth.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is strategically placed within Jeremiah's extensive prophetic corpus, specifically within a crucial section (Jeremiah 23:9-40) dedicated to the scathing condemnation of false prophets operating in Judah. Jeremiah's own prophetic ministry was characterized by the difficult and unpopular task of delivering messages of impending judgment and exile due to Judah's deep-seated sin and idolatry. In stark contrast, a multitude of other prophets offered optimistic pronouncements of peace and prosperity, directly contradicting Jeremiah's dire warnings. This created a profound spiritual dilemma for the populace, making it exceedingly challenging to discern God's authentic voice amidst a cacophony of conflicting claims. The verses immediately preceding this passage (Jeremiah 23:9-15) vividly detail the moral corruption and spiritual depravity of these false prophets, describing how they defile the land and actively lead the people astray. Jeremiah 23:16 thus functions as a direct, imperative command to the people, urging them to decisively reject these deceptive voices and their empty promises.
Historical & Cultural Context
Jeremiah prophesied during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah (late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE), a period marked by profound political instability, widespread spiritual apostasy, and the escalating threat of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. While King Josiah's reforms had briefly ignited a spiritual revival, after his death, subsequent kings and the general populace largely reverted to idolatry, social injustice, and covenant unfaithfulness. In this volatile climate, prophecy was a recognized, albeit frequently abused, institution. True prophets served as God's direct spokespersons, delivering His authoritative word to the nation. However, many individuals claimed prophetic authority without divine commission, often tailoring their messages to align with popular sentiment, political expediency, or personal gain. These false prophets exploited the people's deep-seated desire for comfort and security, promising deliverance from Babylon and continued national prosperity, even as God's judgment loomed. The powerful phrase "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) would have resonated profoundly with the audience, serving as a potent reminder of God's supreme sovereignty over all earthly and heavenly armies, thereby underscoring the immense gravity and authority of His divine command.
Key Themes
Jeremiah 23:16 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and broader biblical theology. A primary theme is the authenticity of divine revelation versus human invention. The verse draws a sharp, undeniable distinction between messages originating "out of the mouth of the LORD" and those stemming from "a vision of their own heart," emphasizing that true prophecy is divinely inspired, authoritative, and infallible, while false prophecy is self-generated, deceptive, and ultimately worthless. This directly relates to the theme of spiritual discernment, as God explicitly commands His people to "Hearken not" to these false messages, thereby placing the crucial onus on the audience to critically evaluate and test what they hear. This discernment is absolutely vital for navigating spiritual truth, a principle echoed in later New Testament warnings about false teachers, such as those found throughout Matthew 7:15-20 and 2 Peter 2:1-3. Furthermore, the verse highlights the severe consequences of false teaching, stating that these prophets "make you vain." This implies leading people into emptiness, delusion, and ultimately spiritual futility and destruction, reinforcing the profound idea that messages not firmly rooted in God's truth offer no genuine benefit, lasting hope, or true spiritual life, a concept powerfully echoed in Lamentations 2:14 and Ezekiel 13:6-7.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
Meaning "to be vain in act, word, or expectation; specifically to lead astray; be (become, make) vain." In this context, the false prophets' words are not merely incorrect or mistaken; they actively lead the people into emptiness, delusion, and worthlessness. Their messages offer no true substance, spiritual nourishment, or genuine hope, ultimately proving futile and destructive to those who believe them, leaving them spiritually barren and unprepared for God's true purposes.
Meaning "a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle; vision." While "vision" typically refers to a divinely granted prophetic insight or revelation, Jeremiah employs it here to expose the fraudulent nature of the false prophets' claims. By attributing it to "their own heart," he subverts the term, indicating that what they present as divine revelation is, in fact, a product of their human imagination, personal desires, uninspired intellect, or even deliberate fabrication, lacking any true divine encounter, commission, or authority.
Meaning "the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything." In this verse, "heart" profoundly signifies the internal, human origin of the false prophecies. It points to the prophets' own thoughts, emotions, desires, uninspired intellect, and perhaps even their deceitful intentions as the true source of their messages, standing in stark contrast to the external, divine, and authoritative origin of true prophecy that comes "out of the mouth of the LORD."
Verse Breakdown
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts,"
This opening phrase serves as a powerful and authoritative declaration of divine origin and sovereignty. "The LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) emphasizes God's supreme authority, His absolute control over all heavenly and earthly powers, and His undeniable right to command, judge, and reveal His will. This introduction immediately establishes the gravity, undeniable truth, and binding nature of the warning that follows, setting it apart from the hollow and self-serving claims of the false prophets.
"Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you:"
This is an imperative command directly from God, urgently addressing the people of Judah. "Hearken not" (from H8085, shâmaʻ) means to refuse to listen intelligently, to disobey, or to disregard entirely. The "words" (H1697, dâbâr) of these self-proclaimed "prophets" (H5030, nâbîyʼ) who "prophesy" (H5012, nâbâʼ) are explicitly identified as dangerous and are to be utterly rejected, highlighting the critical and life-saving need for spiritual discernment.
"they make you vain:"
This clause explains the detrimental and spiritually destructive effect of heeding the false prophets. The Hebrew word for "vain" (H1891, hâbal) implies leading into emptiness, futility, worthlessness, and ultimately spiritual delusion. The false messages do not provide genuine guidance, spiritual strength, or true hope; instead, they lead the people into a state of self-deception and ultimately prove to be empty promises that will not materialize, leaving the people disillusioned, spiritually impoverished, and without true divine direction.
"they speak a vision of their own heart,"
This phrase exposes the true, unholy source of the false prophecies. The "vision" (H2377, châzôwn), which should be a divinely imparted revelation, is here revealed to originate not from God, but from "their own heart" (H3820, lêb). This signifies that the messages are mere products of human imagination, personal desires, uninspired intellect, self-interest, or even deliberate fabrication, rather than genuine, God-breathed communication. It underscores the self-generated, unholy, and deceptive nature of their pronouncements.
"and not out of the mouth of the LORD."
This final clause provides the ultimate, non-negotiable criterion for distinguishing true prophecy from false. It directly contrasts the human, internal origin of the false messages with the divine, external origin of true revelation. "Out of the mouth of the LORD" (H6310, peh, referring to God's direct speech, H3068, Yᵉhôvâh) signifies that authentic prophecy is God-breathed, authoritative, perfectly aligned with His character and will, and therefore utterly reliable. The explicit absence of this divine source renders the false prophets' words null, void, and spiritually dangerous.
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 23:16 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent and critical message. The most prominent is Contrast, which establishes a clear and absolute dichotomy between the false prophets' messages originating from "a vision of their own heart" and true prophecy coming "out of the mouth of the LORD." This stark opposition highlights the fundamental difference in source, authority, and spiritual efficacy. The opening phrase, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts," functions as an Authoritative Declaration, lending immense weight, divine backing, and irrefutable truth to the subsequent warning, emphasizing that this is not merely Jeremiah's personal opinion but God's direct, sovereign command. The command "Hearken not" is a forceful Imperative, a direct and uncompromising instruction that demands immediate obedience and underscores the severe danger of spiritual disobedience. Furthermore, the phrase "they make you vain" serves as a vivid Consequence Statement, powerfully illustrating the spiritual emptiness, futility, and ultimate destruction that inevitably results from following false teachings. Finally, the use of "mouth of the LORD" is a sophisticated Metonymy, where a physical part (mouth) stands for the divine communication itself, emphasizing the direct, unmediated, and personal nature of God's true, infallible word.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Jeremiah 23:16 stands as a foundational theological text regarding the nature of divine revelation and the critical importance of spiritual discernment for God's people. It unequivocally underscores that God's word is distinct, pure, and originates solely from His sovereign being, contrasting sharply with human-generated messages, however comforting, popular, or politically expedient they may be. The severe warning against being "made vain" by false prophecy highlights the spiritual barrenness, delusion, and ultimate destruction that results from embracing untruths, emphasizing that true spiritual nourishment, genuine hope, and authentic guidance come only from God's unadulterated, authoritative voice. This passage serves as a timeless reminder that the integrity, power, and salvific efficacy of any spiritual message are directly tied to the authority, purity, and divine origin of its source, thereby calling all believers across generations to a vigilant, discerning, and biblically grounded posture toward all claims of spiritual truth.
Reflection and Application
In an age saturated with information, diverse spiritual claims, and a cacophony of voices vying for attention, Jeremiah 23:16 remains profoundly relevant, urgently calling believers to cultivate a robust and unwavering spiritual discernment. We are called not to passively consume every message presented as divine truth, but to actively "hearken not" to anything that does not genuinely originate from the "mouth of the LORD." This requires a deep, abiding familiarity with God's revealed Word, the Holy Bible, which serves as the ultimate, infallible standard for truth and the plumb line for all spiritual claims. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we develop a spiritual ear attuned to God's authentic voice and a keen sensitivity to anything that deviates from His unchanging character, His revealed will, and His redemptive plan. This cultivated discernment protects us from the "vain" promises and empty assurances of those who speak from "their own heart," leading us instead to the true, living, and lasting hope found only in God's unfailing word. It challenges us to prioritize divine truth over fleeting comfort, biblical fidelity over popular opinion or cultural trends, and genuine divine revelation over human invention, thereby ensuring that our spiritual foundation remains solid, unshakeable, and eternally secure.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of "LORD of hosts" in this verse?
The title "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) is profoundly significant. It emphasizes God's supreme sovereignty, omnipotence, and absolute authority. "Hosts" refers to armies, both earthly and heavenly, signifying God's command over all creation, including celestial beings and military forces. In the context of Jeremiah 23:16, it underscores that the solemn warning against false prophets comes directly from the ultimate authority, the all-powerful, all-controlling God. This makes the command to "hearken not" incredibly weighty and non-negotiable, powerfully contrasting God's absolute truth and power with the feeble, deceptive, and human-centered words of false prophets.
How can one discern between a true prophet and a false prophet according to Scripture?
Scripture provides several crucial criteria for discerning true prophets from false ones, a discernment vital for God's people. Firstly, a true prophet's words must come to pass exactly as prophesied (see Deuteronomy 18:21-22). Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, a true prophet will never lead people away from God or encourage the worship of other gods, even if their prophecies appear to come true (see Deuteronomy 13:1-5). Thirdly, their message must consistently align with God's previously revealed word and character as found in the Scriptures (e.g., Isaiah 8:20). Fourthly, their fruit or character should be consistent with righteous living and genuine godliness, as Jesus taught, "By their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:15-20). Finally, the New Testament encourages all believers to "test the spirits" to see whether they are from God, as many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1).
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Jeremiah 23:16, with its stark warning against false prophets and its profound emphasis on the authentic "mouth of the LORD," finds its ultimate fulfillment and complete resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the quintessential Prophet, the very Word of God made flesh, through whom God has spoken His final, most complete, and perfect revelation to humanity (see Hebrews 1:1-2). Unlike the false prophets who spoke "a vision of their own heart," Jesus spoke only what He heard directly from the Father, embodying perfect divine fidelity (as powerfully stated in John 12:49-50 and John 14:10). He perfectly embodies the truth that comes "out of the mouth of the LORD," for He is not merely a messenger, but "the way, the truth, and the life," the very embodiment of reality and divine revelation (John 14:6). In Christ, the discernment problem is definitively solved: we are called to "hearken" to Him above all others, for His words are "spirit and life" (John 6:63), leading not to emptiness or vanity, but to eternal life and abundant truth (John 5:24). He is the true shepherd whose voice His sheep intimately know and faithfully follow, while they instinctively flee from the voice of strangers, for they do not know their voice (John 10:4-5). Thus, Jeremiah's ancient warning ultimately points us to the one true Prophet, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's infallible and life-giving word.